Synonyms for shaft

Grammar : Noun

Spell : shaft, shahft

Phonetic Transcription : ʃæft, ʃɑft

Top 10 synonyms for shaft

Other synonyms for the word shaft

Définition of shaft

Origin : Old English sceaft "long, slender rod, staff, pole; spear-shaft; spear," from Proto-Germanic *skaftaz (cf. Old Norse skapt, Old Saxon skaft, Old High German scaft, German schaft, Dutch schacht, not found in Gothic), which some connect with a Germanic passive past participle of PIE root *(s)kep- "to cut, to scrape" (cf. Old English scafan "to shave, scrape, polish") on notion of "tree branch stripped of its bark." But cf. Latin scapus "shaft, stem, shank," Greek skeptron "a staff" (see scepter) which appear to be cognates.
Meaning "beam or ray" (of light, etc.) is attested from c.1300. Sense of "an arrow" is from c.1400; that of "a handle" from 1520s. Mechanical sense is from 1680s. Vulgar slang meaning "penis" first recorded 1719 on notion of "columnar part" (late 14c.); hence probably shaft (v.) and the related noun sense "act of unfair treatment" (1959), though some early sources insist this is from the notion of a "wound."

noun rod
noun weapon
noun ray of light
noun long part of something

Example sentences :

Now they neared the foot of the shaft where the rest of the party seemed to await them.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

Presently Percival found himself again at the bottom of the shaft.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

No shaft that Percival was able to fashion had point enough to pierce it.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

It is but the eye to the cord, the cord to the shaft, and the shaft to the mark.
Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle

"You are the surer, Watkin," said Aylward, standing by them with shaft upon string.
Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle

Better to strike the rear guard than to feather a shaft in the earth.
Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle

They fit into one another like the arrow point to the shaft.
Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin

He it was who forged the shaft of the Savannah, the first steamship which crossed the Atlantic.
Extract from : « Heroes of the Telegraph » by J. Munro

(feather-equipment), the feathers of the shaft of the arrow: dat.
Extract from : « Beowulf » by Unknown

Then he reached out both hands vaguely and touched the shaft of the plough.
Extract from : « The Incomplete Amorist » by E. Nesbit

Antonyms for shaft

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019